CPP-NPA at its weakest -- AFP official

From the Philippine News Agency (Feb 28): CPP-NPA at its weakest -- AFP official

“The CPP-NPA is at the weakest point.” Thus said 3rd Infantry (Spearhead) Division commander Maj. Gen. Jose Mabanta Jr. in a press dispatch yesterday.

Mabanta said the series of evident infighting shows disunity and significant leadership and conflicts within the organization. "The state of discipline and training is also deteriorating among its ranks, aside from the fact that they already lack credible leaders," Mabanta added.

The 3ID commander, which has the over-all jurisdiction on all military units operating throughout Negros island including those at Siquijor island, said the NPA infighting is also a result of the ‘tug-of-war’ for resources due to waning extortion proceeds.

Since extortion has been an income-generating activity of the different factions of NPA, they end up killing each other because one group would want to dominate the other.

He said the military’s successful Bayanihan peace and development operations and the united support of local government units, non-government organizations, private companies and other stakeholders in Negros and Panay is gaining grounds.

Mabanta added: “The NPA is losing its mass base and the recent arrest of one of its key leaders in Negros Occidental will serve as a lesson to other members to surrender, embrace the peace and join the mainstream of society.”

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?idn=2&sid=&nid=2&rid=502455